Jim Smith, professor of social work, passed away Feb. 12, 2024. His journey of life began July 9, 1951, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“I’ll remember his colorful ties and his big cowboy hat,” said Rhonda Peterson Dealey, associate professor of social work. “I’ll remember his infectious laugh. I’ll remember his passion for justice and social work.”
He attended Hampton University in Virginia to obtain his bachelor’s of arts in sociology. He then immediately went on to pursue his master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
“He was always there for me when I was going through hard times, and was a good listener when I needed it,” Peterson Dealey said.
In 1988, 11 years after obtaining his first master’s degree, Smith went to University of La Verne to complete a second master’s degree in public administration.
In the year 2000, he earned his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in a program called Family Life Education and Consultation. He was a clinical social worker licensed in Kansas, Wyoming and North Carolina.
He began teaching at Washburn in 2008 and had remained here until his death. Because of a chronic illness, Smith had not been teaching in the spring 2024 semester.
“He always used a green or purple pen. He wouldn’t use a red one anymore because they [students] complained that the red looked like he bled all over their papers,” Peterson Dealey said. “He just gave so much feedback, their whole page would be green after he graded it.”
Students were commonly worried about taking his courses because he had a reputation of being strict and expecting a lot out of them.
“He was always a favorite, they loved him. [Students will say] ‘I learned more from Dr. Smith than anybody.’ He was so amazing as an instructor, so students will always remember his feedback and his green pen,” Peterson Dealey said.
While Smith had a significant impact on several people, he especially had an impact on Tonya Ricklefs, associate professor of social work. He taught Ricklefs when she was obtaining her master’s degree and stepped up to help when she needed it.
“My master’s degree had to have two internships. One almost didn’t happen at the last minute, and he stepped in and said he would be my supervisor, so that was huge,” Ricklefs said.
Ricklefs went on to pursue earning her doctorate degree only because of Smith pushing her to do so as her advisor.
“He said ‘you need to get a Ph.D.’ Not you should, you need. I didn’t think I could get a Ph.D. He was like ‘you can’ and he actually encouraged me to do it,” Ricklefs said.
His colleagues will remember him always singing, and his excitement whenever baked goods were brought into the office.
“Don’t get between him and his cookies,” Ricklefs said.
His passing was posted to the Facebook page for the Washburn Social Work Department, and several former students and colleagues posted their sentiments.
“So very sad to hear this. He was an exceptional man who influenced my life immensely. Care and love to his family and friends,” commented Alisha Saucedo.
Smith had built a reputation for his passion for others’ success.
“A great professor who truly cared and pushed you to your best,” commented RJ Kain.
His funeral service was Feb. 19, and his obituary can be read in the Topeka Capital Journal.
Edited by Jeremy Ford and the Copy Team
